"It is one thing to disagree over political matters or to be severely critical of another country's policy. It
is quite another to indulge in a general expression of contempt, or even hatred, for a society, its history, its culture and
its people. Americans themselves are sometimes confronted with this kind of absurd hostility abroad. Of all nationalities,
they should be the first to stay away from it."

And
the Times tells us Antoine Audouard is the author of "Farewell, My Only One" – and the biographic footnotes will
tell you this fellow has a curious fascination with Héloïse et Abélard – one strange bit of odd sexual history (you could look it up) – and he’s
related to a minor surrealist.But we won’t hold that against him.

He
notices the strange "For Two Hours, It Won't Kill You to Love the French" billboard and comments that as a Parisian who recently
moved to New York he has not personally encountered any American hostility toward him as a French citizen, but too he is amazed
by “the proliferation of French-bashing in the media.”

There
are a raft of anti-French websites and blogs – and he struggles with that – and all the jokes.But is it all a true picture of what America thinks?

Of course, you could argue that the excesses of bloggers do not paint an accurate picture of American sentiment. You
could argue, too, against reading too much into The New York Post's references to President Jacques Chirac of France
as a "weasel."It's true that the days of "freedom fries" are behind us and that
any recent dent in French exports is more likely the result of a weak dollar than a boycott of French goods. (Back in the
days leading up to the war in Iraq, a friend in California called to tell me about a local TV commercial for rotisserie-cooked
chicken that began: "Don't be a chicken like the French. Eat it.")

But
the hysteria of French-bashing has given way to a more insidious form of bias.For
example, it was humbling for us French to watch Democratic operatives desperately trying to hide John Kerry's French relatives
- who had come to be with him at the Democratic convention - from the press.And
it was rather funny to hear the advice given by some TV pundits to Mr. Kerry minutes before the first debate: "Don't speak
French." (He didn't, and by the way, it made no difference.)And whether in rustic
tabloid lingo or in the more refined language of broadsheets, the typical out-of-touch East Coast liberal is more often than
not "French speaking" or "Bordeaux drinking."

… It has become fashionable - even commonplace - in the American media to associate the French with things cowardly,
despicable, unfaithful, ungrateful or foul-smelling. In addition to the (more conventional) complaint about Gallic arrogance.

Here
in the country of political correctness, where the mainstream press treads on eggshells when talking about race, religion,
nation or ethnicity, French-bashing, it would seem, has become politically correct.

It
has become politically correct.And fun for many.But why?

Audouard
list some reasons -

…
France's opposition to the war in Iraq is the first, of course. This has infuriated the political establishment - Republicans
and Democrats alike. And during times of war, patriotic sentiment can quickly become xenophobic. Having cast themselves in
the role of Cassandra (who was endowed with the gift of prophecy but not with the talent of making herself heard), the French
should not be surprised by the American Agamemnon's resentment.

Of course.One hates the person who was right in the first place, particularly when you yourself screwed up publicly.They told you.You were too stubborn to listen (or too principled
with clearer moral values).And you probably hate anyone who refers casually
to Cassandra and Agamemnon because you have only a dim recollection of those names.School is for losers, as our president points out - "I speak with some authority here. "I've seen how things can work out pretty well for a C student."

Other grades:Introduction to the American Political System: 73 (C-)Introduction to
International Relations: 71 (C-)Astronomy: 69 (D+)Anthropology 25: 88 (B+) - his best grade ever at Yale

Overall
GPA: 77 (C/C+)

Cassandra
and Agamemnon indeed.

Audouard
also points that France is one of the few major European countries to have never undergone any widespread immigration to America.So there is no French minority to pander to, no French lobby to placate.True.Saint Patrick’s Day is
a big deal for Irish-Americans, bigger here than in Ireland.Come July 14th
– not much happens here.The French did not flood America en masse
way back when.Minnesota Lutherans have more clout here.

So
the French are an easy target.And Americans do like to bully and patronize others,
with a big smile.It’s part of our charm, and why we’re so lovable.

So
we are not shy with our contempt, or even hatred, for this other society, its history, its culture and its people.They should know they’re inferior and laugh along with us.It’s an Alpha-Male pack thing.Others should roll over, expose their
bellies and submit.We’re top got.We get everything.That’s the way it is.

Too bad the French were right about this war thing.The really messes things up.And make
us angier.

And
then, of all things, Audouard gives us advice!

Americans
themselves are sometimes confronted with this kind of absurd hostility abroad. Of all nationalities, they should be the first
to stay away from it. After all, diversity and respect for other cultures are among the core values on which America was founded
- and by which Americans thrive.

Yeah,
but if people are hostile to us, we kill them.That shuts them up.

Antoine Audouard was born in 1956.
He spent six years as publishing director of Laffont-Fixot, in France, leaving to devote himself to writing. Farewell,
My Only One is his first novel translated into English.